BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Since Larnell Damon opened his barber shop five years ago, he has donated backpacks, meals, haircuts and even life advice to kids in the neighborhood.
But perhaps most of all, he gives his time.
Other barbers who work with him in the shop took notice, and decided he should be rewarded for his work.
- Larnelle Damon, a barber and entrepreneur, was honored with a $2,500 award for community involvement
- He donates to unhoused people, occasionally offers free haircuts and says he wants nothing in return
- His shop, Legacy Unisex Barber, is at 825 Main St., Bethlehem
On Thursday, people who are proud of Damon came to his shop, Legacy Unisex Barber at 825 Main St., as he got the recognition they believe he deserves.
The award, accompanied by a $2,500 check, was from AT&T, the telecommunications company, to recognize his community involvement.
"Yeah, so for me, just giving back is just something that I do," Damon said. "I don't really look for the recognition. It's just something that I do, just because I feel that people need things.
"And if you have it, you give it."
Before Damon could finished, his mother, standing nearby, chimed in — "it's a blessing to be a blessing."
Damon finished: "Yeah that's how I was raised."
Bloodline of barbers
Cutting hair runs three generations deep in the Damon family.
His father, Larryl, who owns a shop in New Jersey, was there to support him on Thursday. He got into the family business from his father-in-law.
For Larryl Damon, the space of a barber shop is sort of a trading post for knowledge. He said he's proud to see his son participating in the tradition.
"Well, the barber shop is a good place for information," Larryl Damon said. "You know, whatever, whatever you need out there.
"You can come to the shop, and more than likely anyone that's in the shop will know whatever it is you need and where to go to find it."
"I'm proud of him because he literally started from the bottom. He didn't know five years ago where his career was gonna go or where he was being led to, and, you know, a passion turned into, you know, a business and then a career. And here we are five years later, and he's built this from the ground up, nobody handed anything to him."Soilymar Damon, Larnelle's wife
Larnelle Damon's wife, Soilymar, said she appreciates that he wears "many hats" while manning the barber chair — including, as she put it, therapist.
"I think that that's the biggest way for him to give back, is to make the shop somewhere where it's therapeutic for others to come, and really give time for them," she said.
Most of all, his wife said she's proud of everything her husband does — and how far he has come.
"I'm proud of him because he literally started from the bottom," she said. "He didn't know five years ago where his career was gonna go or where he was being led to.
"And, you know, a passion turned into, you know, a business and then a career. And here we are five years later, and he's built this from the ground up, nobody handed anything to him."
Except the large check that AT&T representatives gave him Thursday during the check presentation.
Damon responded by saying he was on his way to the bank.
"I'm going in the bank and try to cash this," he jokingly said, wiggling the cardboard prop.
